Director Anushree Mehta’s cherished childhood memories include visiting cinema halls and watching a film with her entire extended family. Anushree laughs as she reveals she watched Hrithik Roshan’s Kaho Na Pyaar Hai seven times in a theatre and traces back her love for films, which began with movies like Amar Akbar Anthony, Mr India and Chupke Chupke. It was no surprise then, when she came on board to direct the remake of Bawarchi.
The loved 1972 classic Bawarchi, which was originally helmed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, is now gearing up for a contemporary re-telling, done by Anushree, who has also written the film. Bawarchi featured an ensemble led by actors Rajesh Khanna, Jaya Bachchan and Asrani among others. The beloved family comedy drama was a remake of Rabi Ghosh starrer 1966 Bengali film Galpo Holeo Satti by Tapan Sinha.
Anushree Mehta–who had made her directorial debut with Radhika Apte starrer Mrs Undercover–wrote the film for over six months and is currently on her third draft, ready to take the film on floors by this year after locking its cast, a task which she knows will be difficult. “I am at a stage where I want to talk to actors now and take it forward,” she says as she chats with Indianexpress.com about the process of making the Bawarchi remake. The film is produced by Jaadugar Films and Sameer Raj Sippy Productions.
Edited excerpts:
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Anushree Mehta (@anushreemehtaa)
When was the last time you saw Bawarchi?
I saw it in 2023. But I have practically grown up watching that film, seen it multiple times. I keep watching old films again and again because filmmakers of that time are so inspiring. I am a fan of Manmohan Desai, Hrishikesh Mukherjee. I live on Amar Akbar Anthony, Mr India, Chupke Chupke and of course Bawarchi.
My learning from these films is the suspension of belief, which is done so well, the conviction that these filmmakers had. Today’s audience searches for blueprint and logic in everything, but these films were told with such conviction that one would buy every bit of it and that’s what cinema is about– magic and not logic. Ye dare hue filmmakers nahi the.
Isn’t it difficult to retain that conviction in an industry where people tell you what to do and what not to do?
It is exceptionally difficult. That is a bigger task than actually making the film. But today it is sad because most people operate out of fear more than anything else. The thing that one has to accept that it is impossible to predict what people are going to like. You have to make your film with love and the conviction that this is the story that I want to tell the word. It will definitely find its audience.
Weren’t you scared to adapt an iconic film like Bawarchi? Were there any dos and donts you followed?
See I am an aware and responsible filmmaker. I am mindful of the message my film will give, whether I am attempting an original or a remake. That is a bigger thing to deal with than any fear. My first film taught me that I need to make movies unapologetically. While I was writing this adaptation, there were no dos and donts but the conscious effort was to write it in a way that it speaks to the cotemporary audience, the way they understand life, while keeping the soul of the film intact. So the attempt has been to achieve that amalgamation, where it is relatable but at the same time I am able to give the message that I want to give.
What do you think was the soul of Bawarchi?
Gulzar saab wrote it beautifully in a dialogue that, ‘It is very simple to be happy, but is difficult to be simple.’ I plan to retain this soul and give a full family experience. The way it used to be in my days of watching a film like a family outing, where everyone had something to take back from the movie watching experience.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Anushree Mehta (@anushreemehtaa)
Humour is so fast evolving, what is funny today may not be by the time Bawarchi remake is released. How do you ensure then that the funny bits in the script remain fresh?
Comedy is difficult but this film is not your laugh out loud comedy. It has humour. Something that lands on paper, may not land on set so you have to keep evolving. You need to have fun while making a comedy and not think it clinically about lines and if it will make people laugh. If your team is having fun, actors are in sync– it will show on screen.
Rajesh Khanna and Jaya Bachchan was fantastic in the film. What are the qualities you are looking in the actors that you would be casting these two parts?
See they need to have magic. Rajesh Khanna sir is still so iconic, so I would need magic. I can’t reveal though who all I have in mind to approach for the film. It is a big ensemble, and the casting is going to be a time taking process. I am also producing alongside and directing another. We don’t want to rush into this at all, because it is a dream project and we are ok to wait for everything to fall in place.
Click for more updates and latest Bollywood news along with Entertainment updates. Also get latest news and top headlines from India and around the world at The Indian Express.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
